Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-21
DANGERS OF THE DANCE.
TIE CHURCH AND THE POPU-
LAR AMUSEMENT

u
Rev. II. t. Christian breaches on the
Sins Resulting from the Fascinating
Wsltz-Why Dancing is Wrong-Its
Evil Tendencies and the Stand Differ
emit 6hurches Have Taken in Regard to
1t.
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church
was crowded yesterday morning. The
subject of the pastor, Rev. I. L. CHRIS
tian, was Dancing" He said:
81 have not selected this amusement
because 1t is generally participated IN by
our church, for it is not. Nor have l
chosen it because it is more palpably
worldly or obviously inconsistent with a
Christian profession than others. There
are many who are guilty OF con-
duct more hurtful and damaging
Than dancing, as for example
those who indulge in Saobath-breaking,
drinking, evll-speaking, rafting and gam
bling. But it is not a little thing. and our
church and all other Christian churches
regard 1t as great hndranoe TO spirit
uai life and to the salvation of the soul.
$50 popular and intensely fascinating is
uancing to young people that an evening
party or an anniversary AN excursion, ana
sometimes Sunday school picnic Is con
sidered exceedingly dull without 1t. In
TACT, everything but a funeral. 1t is the
1avorite stimulant Of the worldly. The
wine bibber does not feel more dlsap-
pointed at missing the decanter thau
they do in falling to meet the expected
exbilaration OF the dance. If 1t be
trifiing thing, why is 1t that some pro-
Tossing Christians refuse TO relinquish itY
2iIen when 1t Is smitten by the w ora
PAd, loud note OF dissatisfaction 10
heafdk<t unlike that of the craftsmen OF
Ephes0s. VINO, when being in danger OF
losing their gains. cried out: Great is
Diana OF the Ephesians"
AS A FAMILY AMUSEMENT.
"But,h question is asked, w nat harm
is tSeIe in dancing rs family amuse-
mentp First. there is very little OF this
done. Somehow, brothers ana sisters do
not care TO dance together, as a rule
young lady requested me to rails this
question, why does Young man like to
Gance with somebody else's sisters, but
objects to other young men dancing with
his sister, l am asked, where is the
harm il the party embraces only few
visitors from neighboring householder
We answer, we object to the domestic
dance not because 1t is intrinsic
ally wrong, but because of its
direct tendency TO excite In the
Young a strong desire for the fascination
OF gayer and larger assemblies.
WHAT Is THE HARM?
''Inherently there is no more harm in
moving one set OF muscles to the sound OF
music in the parlor dance than in using
another set in sbuffling, cutting and deal
Ing painted paper in family game OF
cards. Neither can it be SAID TO be immoral
in itself; but we object 10 both because OF
their unav 9idable corrections and
dangerous tendencies"
To show that the Methodist Church
does not stand alone an lie opposition 10
dancing the speaker qu0Bs1 from Bishop
Mclivaine, an EpissBpRliBn. and proml-
nent divines Of other denominations. DR..
Adam Clark said y know IL is evil"
The speaker srgRed that ihe ball rooms
are graduating a generation, q which one
Sex Will not be capable OF managing pub
lie affairs and the other VIII be united TO
properly conduct domestic aIalrs.
No sanction is f01nd in Ibe Bible for the
social dance, and ID instances are men
ton in it in which InR two sexes united 10
the exercise eIth=E ns al xel Ct worship
or amusement.
ITS EVIL TENDENCIES.
Proceeding the speaker said: "Has it
not led many TO RUM | would blush to
repeat what was said in a New York
paper not long ago a. &c the effect OF this
amusement. AS the love OF dancing in
creases the love OF religion decreases.
Parlor dancing leads to ungodlv balls.
And how car Christian pray, Lead me
not into temptation aud rush into the
midst of the dance with its artiully ar
ranged pantomHme. the turns, the touch
ing passe0the advance and retreat, the
oft repeated grasp and especially in the
swimming waltz performed in each
others embraced What real difference is
fhererRetween young couple
OF NsSsite sex gliding over
a waxed floor to the sound of music in
each others embrace and sitting down as
near as possible In the same relative po-
sition?
WOULD NOT BE TOLERATED.
s'Yet one would not be tolerated
and the other is. Let the deluded father
aud mother who persist in educating
their sons and daughters in this dan
gerous amusement remember that
into whatever excuses and
sins they may fall through
this periious advantage God Will hold
them accountable at the great day. You
see, beloved, why the Methodist Church
is opposed to dancing. We love our
young people, and as faithful shepherds
we would save them from the dangers to
which thew are exposed. Were we TO
wink at this worldliness and hush our
warning voice as a church we might
have your names aud smiles, but we
would damn VOur SOuig.O